Combined vending and amusement machine



June 16, 1936. G. E. NORRIS A COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed March 1, 1955 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 1' June 16, 1936. G. E. NORRIS COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed March 1, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 wv c wtoo orye E/Vorrz's June 16, 1936. G. E. NORRIS COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 .,Y 5 0 R4 5 a a W a 9 w 9 L@ 9 8 0 a 1 w W 9 m m 5 a 21 Q a .7 Q W w 3 5 l 3 MW 1 J a x w O xa w Q 1 3 7 a z 1 2 f 0 6 5 fl 7 l M 174 1 C 0 1 6 V 8 a g E W c y O ad 1. 0 4 l 3mm v GE'OIYeE/MH B June 16, 1936. G. E. NORRIS COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE zmwgm Filed March 1, 1935 7 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 3mm I L Z/@2713 June 16, 1936. E E NoRms 2,044,320

COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed March 1, 1935 .7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 16, 1936. G NQRRIS 2,044,320 A COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed March 1, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 I MI \ l-lllllml a v 6'60 ryeE/Vorrzb June 16, 1936.

G. E. NORRIS COMBINED VENDING AND AMUSEMENT MACHINE 7 Shets-Sheet 7 Filed March 1, 1935 WWW Patented June 15, 1936 COMBINED VENDING ANDI AMUSEIWENT. MACHINE George E. Norris, Columbus, Ohio Application. March 1, 1935, Serial No. 8,916v

14 Claims. (Cl. 273-1 l3') This invention relates to combined vending and amusement furnishing machines-of the type actuated through the insertion of coins-or metallic tokens, the object of the invention being to pro- 5 vide an improved machine of this character which, when released through the insertion of a proper coin or token, will operate to permit of a regulated discharge of merchandise from the machine and, simultaneously therewith, efiect 10 the operation of a plurality of rotatably mounted permutation reels, the latter bearing game symbols on the peripheral portions thereof which, upon the completion of the rotation of the wheels, willbe presented to the view of the machine op- 15 erator in varying sequences whereby to attract the attention and interest of the operator and to stimulate the sales of merchandise from the machine.

With these and other objects in View, which will 20 appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described and. pointedout in the appended'claims.

25 In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the cabinet of the machine; 7

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the upper portion of the casing broken away to disclose in plan the symbol bearing reels;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken through the cabinet on the plane indicated by the line III-III of Fig. 2, and disclosing in end elevation the coin controlled lever mechanism employed in eifecting the operation of the reels, the vending apparatus and associated parts;

Fig. 4 is a similar View disclosing the positions of the lever mechanism when the operating han- 407. dle is partially advanced to actuate the machine;

' Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken'adjacent to the coin chute of the machine with the lever mechanism in the positions disclosed in Fig. 2;

45 Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken directly through the coin chute;

Fig. 'l is a vertical sectional view taken through one of the reels and the ratchet driving mechanism therefor;

50- Fig. 8 is an enlarged verticalsectional View through the pawl and ratchet drive of one of said reels;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view of the mechanisrn-employed for diverting coins inserted into the machine into different receivers;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view on the line XX of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view on the line XI.-2fl ofFig. 9;

Fig. 12Jis a perspective view of the actuating lever, the coin ejector,'and the control lever of the machine assembled in operative relationship.

Fig. 13:is a detail perspective View of a V-shaped bar used-inoperating certain detents employed in the machine;

Fig. 14 is a vertical longitudinalsectional view taken through the merchandise hopper and mechanism used in dispensing the merchandise;

Fig. 15 is a horizontal sectional view takenon ii; the line XV-XV of 'Fig. 14 and shows the ejector mechanism;

Fig. 16 is avertical longitudinal sectional view through the bottom of the cabinet and shows more particularly the money receiving compart- 20 ments;

Figs. 17, 18, and-19-are side elevations of the mechanism employed in spinning the reels and show thesaid' mechanism in various stages of operation;

Fig. 20 is a detail perspective view of a frame member provided with lugs which are used to vary the sequence of operation of the reels.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the improved vending and amusement machine, comprising the present invention, includes a cabinet A which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, provides spaced vertical side walls |l, preferably in the form of metal castings which, at their lower ends, are secured to a metallic base member 2, from which depend fixed studs 3- of a resilient material which prevent the cabinet fronrmarring the surface on which it is placed for support. The side walls l-l have their upper ends connected with a horizontally disposed top wall 4 and a vertical back wall 5 is connected along its marginal edges to the side Walls I, the base member 2 and the top wall 3, completely enclosing the back of the cabinet. The frontofthe cabinet includes an upstanding stationary front Wall 6. which is permanently connected with the base 2': and'arranged within the lower portion of: the cabinet, in a'horizontal plane defining the upper edgeof the front wall 6,

is a partition 'l, which'separates the interior of the cabinet into an upper machinery holding. compartment B and-a lower money or token receivingcompartment'C, the latter being inaccessible from the upper compartment. In the lower compartment, there are provided a plurality of money or token receiving compartments 8 and 9, which are independently accessible, by the operation of key actuated locks carried by removable doors or plates 8' and 9 provided in the lower portions of the side walls I.

The opening formed in the front of the cabinet between the upper edge of the front wall 6 and the top wall 4 is normally closed by a removable plate lll, preferably in the form of a metallic casting, having an ornamental exterior. This plate carries on its rear side in bodily removable relationship therewith the reel and vending mechanism to be hereinafter described, whereby upon the removal of the plate from its applied position in connection with the front of the cabinet, all of the operating mechanism of the apparatus will be rendered readily accessible for the purpose of facilitating adjustment, assembly and repair of the numerous mechanical elements entering into the construction of the vending and reel mechanism.

The plate H3 is mounted in connection with the cabinet by providing its lower horizontal edge with a shoulder H which engages with a complemental shoulder provided in connection with the upper edge of the front wall 6. Similarly, the upper edge of the removable plate It] is shouldered or rabbeted as at l2 for engagement with a depending vertical flange l3 formed in connection with the forward portion of the top wall 4 of the cabinet, and the vertical side edges of the plate are provided with laterally turned inwardly directed flanges I4 which overlie and extend parallel with the forward vertical edges of the side Walls I, so as to close the joints formed between the meeting edges of the side walls and the plate [0.

To look the plate against unauthorized removal in its position of closure in connection with the cabinet, the upper central portion of said plate is equipped with a key operated lock IS, the rotatable latch l 6 of which being disposed so that it will engage with the back side of the flange l3. Also to lock the plate in position, the rear side thereof carries, within the compartment B, stationary frame brackets [1, which have their lower ends provided with downwardly disposed projections l8, the latter being receivable within longitudinally spaced openings I9 provided in the partition 1, and which projections and openings in combination with the latch l6 and the flange l3 retain the front plate I!) in its locked operative engagement with the front of the cabinet. To remove said plate, however, and the mechanism carried thereby, it is merely necessary to operate the lock l5 so that the latch l6 may be revolved to a position free of the flange 13. Then by rocking the plate outwardly and downwardly, on a fulcrum afforded by the shoulder H, the projections I8 may be released from engagement with the openings l9 and the plate and its associated mechanism bodily removed from the cabinet.

In the operation of the machine, a metallic coin or token is inserted in a transversely extending coin receiving slot 20 formed in the upper right hand side of the plate l0. Carried by the back side of the plate In in registration with the slot 20 is a curved stationary chute 2| 7 through which a coin, inserted in the slot 20, drops by gravity until it assumes the inclined playing position D indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. The right frame bracket 11 carries a horizontally disposed stud shaft 22 upon which is loosely mounted for rotation an actuating lever 23, the latter being provided with an outwardly projecting handle 24 which extends through an arcuate slots 25 provided in the plate It]. This slot is normally closed in all positions of operation of the handle 24, by means of a segmental baflie 26 integrally formed in connection with the lever 23, the baille 26 being part of a circle of which the axis of the shaft 22 is the center, and is arranged immediately behind the slot in the plate H] in order to cover said slot at all times.

The lower end of the lever 23 includes an angularly depending crank arm 21, which has its lower end terminated in a transversely disposed stop collar 28 preferably of a resilient material. This collar is arranged for movement in an arouate recess 29 formed in connection with a stationary bracket 30, the latter being carried by and directly mounted upon the rear side of the plate Ill. The bracket 3|] is formed with a. bearing 3| for the reception and support of the outer end of the stud shaft 22, the other end of said stud shaft being received within one of the frame brackets IT. The recess 29 serves to limit the extent of oscillation of the crank arm 21 and its associated handle 24.

Mounted for oscillation on the stud shaft 22, immediately adjacent to the lever 23, is a coin ejector 32. In the present form of the inven- 30 tion, this ejector comprises a unitary metallic casting having a hub 33 which is loosely received on the stud shaft 22. The ejector further includes a segmental web 34, the lower portion of which is provided with an integral out-turned 35 foot 35 which is arranged in the path of movement of the rear edge of the crank arm 21 of the lever 23, whereby when the handle 24 of the lever 23 is moved downwardly by the operator of the game, upward oscillation of the web 34 of the ejector 32 will take place about the axis of the stud shaft 22.

The upper part of the web 34 is provided with a hook 36 to which is connected the upper end of a coil spring 31, the other or lower end of said spring being connected with a corresponding hook 38 formed in connection with the stationary bracket 30, the tendency of the spring 31 being to maintain contact between the foot 35 and the crank arm 21 so that the lever 23 will be oscillated to maintain its handle 24 in an upright position.

Also, the spring 31 normally serves to maintain the ejector 32 in a lowered position so that a curved finger 39, formed in connection with the upper portion of the ejector, will have its forward angular surface 40 disposed to the rear of a slot 4|, provided in the back wall of the coin chute 2|, whereby the surface 40 of the ejector will not interfere with the insertion of a coin into the chute but will allow such a coin or token to assume the playing position in the chute, indicated at D. When the coin or token is in the position D, the same will be in registration with the forward end of the finger 39. By forcing the handle 24 downwardly, it will be observed that the foot 35 of the ejector 32 will be engaged by the crank arm 21, causing the rotation of said ejector so that the finger 39 will be forced through the slot 4| and into contact with the flat rearward surface of a coin positioned in the chute 2| at the position D, causing said coin to be dislodged from its seated position within said chute and advanced toward a therefor.

discharging position in front of itsseating position;

The web 34 is provided at its peripheral edge with ratchet teeth 42 which are disposed to engage with a spring pressed pawl 43 carried by an: arm 55 of the bracket 39, the formation of the ratchet teeth and the arrangement of the pawl being such as to compel the operator of the machine to force the handle 24 downwardly to its fullest extent after movement of the lever 23 has been initiated. In other words, the pawl 43 compels full actuation of the handle 24.

Also mounted for limited oscillation on the stud shaft 22 is a control lever which preferably consists of a single metallic casting providedwith an upstanding arm 46 which terminates at its outer end in a laterally directed lip 41, which is arranged to the front of the chute 2'1 and constitutes in effect a movable front wall In other words, the lip 41 engages with the stationary chute 2| in registration with the playing position D, so that a coin or token deposited in the upper end of said chute will gravitate to the position D and will be retained in said position by being wedged between the lip 51- of said control lever 45 and the rear stationary wall of the chute 2|. Now, as the handle 24 is oscillated and the finger 39 of the ejector 32 brought into contact with the coin by the passage of the finger through the slot 4!, the pressure thereby exerted on the lip 5'? through the interposition of the coin, causes the lip 47 to move outwardly in unison with the movement of the ejector finger, with the coin frictionally clamped between the outer end of the ejector finger and said lip. This results, at the same time, in the oscillation of the control lever 15 about the rock shaft. When there is no coin in the position D, the finger 39 may pass through a slot 41' provided in the lip 51 if the handle 24 should be depressed.

The control lever 45 also includes a rearwardly extending arm 58, formed with a hook 49 with which is engaged the upper end of a coil spring 50, the lower end of the coil spring 50 being engaged with a hook 5! formed in connection with a stationary longitudinally extending frame bar 52 which is connected with the under side of one of the frame brackets IT. Thus the oscillation of the control lever by the operation of the coin ejector and the handle 24 takes place against the resistance exercised on the control lever by the coil spring 53.

The outer end of the arm 48 of the control lever 45 is provided with a triangular-shaped projection 53'which upon the upward swinging movement of the arm 58 in response to the operation of the ejector 32 on the control lever, contacts with the cam surface 54 of a reel shaft rotating link 55. This link is formed with an elongated slot 55 which loosely receives one end of a reel rotating shaft 5?, the latter being rotatably mounted in connection with bearings 58 provided in the frame brackets H. The link 55 is pivotally connected as at 59 with a reel shaft operating crank 59, the latter having its hub suitably fixed or keyed to the outer end of the shaft 57.

The link 55 is further provided with a hook with which is engaged the upper end of a coil spring 6 l, the lower end of said spring being connected with a hook formed in connection with the'bar 52, the tendency of the spring 6| being to revolve the link 55 and its associated crank 50 in a downward direction, so. that a finger 52, formed at the outer end of the crank 60 will engage with a stationary stop lug 53 provided on the frame bracket ll. By this construction,

when the arm 58 swings upwardly in response to the turning movement of the lever 45 bypressure applied through the operation of the coin ejector, the projection 53 on the outer part of the arm 48 strikes the cam surface 54 of the link 55, the slot 56 in said link permitting the projection 53 to move past". the link 55 without rotating the reel shaft 5'! until the control lever bas been rockedv upwardly to its fullest extent of movement, at which time the projection 53 will be disposed above the hook-shaped extremity 64 of the link 55, and the operating handle will have been depressed to the fullest extent of its movement.

To momentarily lock the control lever 45' in its upper position, a wedge-shaped lug 65 formed on the opposite side of the lever from the projection 53, will be caught by a spring pressed keeper 65 pivoted as at 51 in the upper portion: of the chamber B. The levers are shown locked in this position in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Upon release of the handle 25, to permit it to return to its normal elevated position, the coil spring 31 immediately operates to move the finger 39 to a retracted position.

During the course of the return movement of the finger 39, a shoulder 58 formed with the web 34 engages a curved extension 69 provided on the keeper 65 and moves it against the action of its spring to release the lug G5 and permit the control lever to return to its normal position. Since the lip il formed on the control lever remains stationary while the lever is held by the keeper, relative separation between it and the finger 39 is produced and the coin which had been gripped therebetween will be released and permitted to continue its travel down the coin chute to the position E immediately above a V-shaped lug 10- where provision has been made for diverting the coins into one or the other of the money compartments 8 and 9.

Also, upon release of the handle 24, the V- shaped projection 53 of the control lever 45, con-' tacts with the hook shaped extremity 64 of the link 55, the control lever moving downwardly;

under the influence of its spring 50. This results in rocking the link 55 about the axis of the I shaft 5!, and since the link 55 is pivotally connected as at 59 with the crank 50, the latter Will be oscillated in an upward direction against the force exercised by the spring EH, thus imparting initial rocking motion to the shaft 51, moving the latter away from its normal position. Immediately following this initial rocking motion of the shaft 57, the latter is rocked in reverse direction to restore the same to its normal position,

this being due to the fact that the projection 53 then in the other, of the shaft 5? is employed to impart spinning motion to the symbol bearing reels H which are mounted in spaced vertical order around the shaft 51 between the frame brackets H. In the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed, five of such reels have been illustrated and are designated by the'reference characters 7, g, h, z, and i, the said reels being mounted for rotation in vertical planes about a common horizontally disposed axis provided by the shaft El. The reels g and i comprise What may be termed the primary set while the reels f, h, and 7' constitute a secondary set. This nomenclature has been employed for the reason that spinning motion in one direction is first imparted to the primary reels 9 and 1' upon the initial rocking movement of the shaft 51 and rotary motion is later imparted to the secondary reels 1', h, and ;i, in a reverse direction to that of the primary reels, by the return motion of the rock shaft 51 to its normal position, the said reels spinning freely about the shaft 5'! when motion is imparted thereto.

Thus, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8, the primary reels 9 and i have their hubs 12 provided with internal teeth l3 which are adapted for engagement with primary pawls 74. These pawls are of the centrifugally responsive type and have their inner ends pivotally connected as at 15 with crank extensions 16 formed on the rock shaft 51, the outer ends of the pawls 14, when said rock occupies its normal position, being disposed in engagement with the teeth 13. By this arrangement, it will be seen that the initial turning movement of the rock shaft from its normal position, effected through power derived from the spring 59, causes the rotation of the primary reels g and 2. When the rock shaft is oscillated to its maximum extent from its normal position as shown in Fig. 8, the pawls l4 responding to gravity disengage the teeth 68, so that free spinning motion of the primary reels about the rock shaft takes place, this being devoid of the clicking noises which usualy accompany a pawl and ratchet operation.

After thus sending the primary reels into a state of rotation, the rock shaft, through the functioning of the link 55 and the crank 99, together with the spring Bl is reversely rocked and restored substantially to its normal position. This reverse rotation of the rock shaft is used to spin the secondary reels in directions opposite to that of the primary reels. This is accomplished by the positions which the pawls Ma. occupy within the hubs 12a of the secondary reels. By reference to Fig. '7, it will be noted that the pawls I ia, when the rock shaft occupies its normal position, are out of contact with the internal teeth 73a of the hub 72a and the pawls Ma only engage with the teeth 13a. after the rock shaft has been moved to approximately its fullest extent from its normal position and after spinning motion has been imparted to the primary reels. Then, when the rock shaft is returned to its normal position by the influence of the spring 9!, the pawls 12a engage with the teeth 73a to effect the spinning of the secondary reels in a direction opposite to that imparted to the primary reels.

By the spinning of the secondary reels, the rock shaft upon resuming its normal position allows the pawls 72a to gravitate tothe position disclosed in Fig. 7 and out of contact with the teeth 13a, the power imparted to the secondary reels by the return motion of the rock shaft being sufficient to effect the continued spinning rotation of the secondary reels under the momentum thus acquired and without clicking noises, the free spinning of both the primary and secondary reels taking place substantially without noise.

The peripheral portionsof the reels are provided with game bearing symbols which may for instance take the form of ordinary playing cards but of course many other game symbols may be used on said reels in accordance with the dietates of practice. Preferably each reel contains eleven different symbols and to permit these symbols to be viewed, one at a time on each reel, the front wall 6 of the cabinet A is provided with a sight opening or window T! by which the horizontally aligned symbols on said reels may be viewed by the operator of the game.

In order to arrest rotation of the reels ll progressively, the present invention makes use of a spring motor 18, which is carried by one of the frame brackets H. The shaft 19 of said motor has fixed thereto an H-shaped lever 80, one leg 8| thereof being disposed in the path of movement of an arm 82 provided on one end of the control lever 45. During upward movement of the control lever in response to the downward movement of the handle 24, the arm 82 engages the leg 8 I, causing the rotation of the lever and the shaft 19 of the spring motor, thereby winding the spring of said motor, the motor being provided with a governor or regulator 83, so: that when the control lever 45 moves downwardly, in response to the action of the spring 59, swinging movement of the lever 89 will take place at a much slower rate of speed.

Normally the reels H are held against rotation, as shown in Figs. '7 and 8, by providing the hubs 12 and 72a with external star-shaped teeth 84 and engaged with these teeth are detents 85, the latter being pivotally mounted upon a stationary shaft 89 supported in connection with the frame I1, coil springs 87 being associated with each of the detents so that the heads 88 thereof will be held in motion restraining contact with the teeth 84.

A U-shaped bar 89, as shown in Fig. 13, is pivotally carried at its ends in connection with the shaft 86 and the longitudinal portion of said bar underlies fingers 99' formed in connection with each of the detents 86. One end of the bar 99 is formed with an upstanding crank 9| with which is connected one end of a. link 92, the opposite end of the latter being pivotally connected as at 93 with the body of the control lever 45.- By this arrangement, when the handle 24 is depressed and the control lever moves upwardly, the link 92 pulls on the crank 9| and oscillates the bar 89 so that the detents 99 will be oscillated about the shaft 89 to move the heads 86 to positions permitting of the free rotation of the reels, the detents being held in their reel-releasing positions by the provision of lugs 94. These lugs are of unequal lengths and are carried by a frame member 95 which is pivotally supported as at 96 in connection with the brackets l1, one end of the frame member terminating in an upstanding arm 97 and a spring 98 is associated with said frame in order to draw the lugs 94 thereof toward the fingers of the detents. When the bar 89 is oscillated to engage with the fingers so that the detents will be moved out of engagement with the teeth 84, the spring 98 advances the frame member so that the lugs 94 thereof underlie the fingers 99, thus positively holding thedetents out of rotation restraining engagement with the teeth of the reel hubs.

After spinning motion has been imparted to both the primary and secondary sets of reels, the H-shaped lever 80 of the motor 18 slowly rocks toward its normal position. When such normal position is reached, one of the arms 99 of said Cal :lever'contacts with the upper end of the arm 9'1 oscillating the frame member 95 slowly in an outward and backward direction. This results in withdrawing the lugs 94 from contact with the .fingers 90, the withdrawal being progressively accomplished by reason of the varied lengths of the .lugsi94. As the lugs '94 are freed from engagement withthe fingers 90, the said detents successively respond to the influence of their springs 81, returningthe heads 88 into contact with the external teeth 84, arresting rotation of said reels,

one ata time. The proportions of 'the teeth 84 are such that when a reel comes to a complete state of rest, the game symbols on the outer peripheral portion thereof will be accurately registered with the sight opening T1 in the front wall of the cabinet.

In order toprevent full return of the rock shaft 51 to its normal position, following the impartation ofspinning motion to the symbol reels and totthereby prevent'the pawls "I4 from contacting .with the teeth "I3 until the end of the spinning period of said reels, the shaft 86 pivotally supports for free turning movement thereon a bar IOU-which is provided at its upper end with a laterally directed extension IN, the lower end of ;the .bar I00 below the shaft 86 being connected with the spring 98 which normally serves .to;rock.ithe bar I00 into contact with the stationary stop lug'63, thebar I00 being in engagement with said stop lug so that the extension IOI thereofwill be disposed in the path of movement of the outer end of the crank 60in order that the extension It]! will operate to arrest the return rocking motion of the shaft 51 toward its normalposition toan extent sufficient to maintain the pawls "I4 out of contact with the internal teeth I3.

The operation of the bar 100 is regulated by a-link I02, which has its upper end pivotally connectedas at I03 with the leg 8| of the H-shaped lever 80. The lower end of the link I02 is received-within a slot I04, best shown in Fig. 10, providedin a frarnebracket m5, which is stationarily mounted in connection with the front wall I0. .-Also,-the lower end of the lever is formed with a cam lllfi which is'held in engagement with one end of the slot I04 by means'of a coil spring [01, which isoonnected with the bracket I05 and the-lower-end of the link I02. As the leg 8| of the1-leve1':80 moves upwardly, and moving with it the link-I02, the latter, due to the provision of the-cam lfiidraws away from the extension IOI of the bar I00,:allowing the latter to respond to the influence of its spring 81 and move into contactwith the lug 03, where it will be located beneaththe outer end of-the crank 60. Upon the return of the crank to its normal position, its outer'end will contact with the extension IOI so thatthe rock shaft does not fully return to its normal position immediately following the spinning of the secondary reels. However, as the lever-80 slowly returns to its normal position and at :about the time the detents B5 are restored to motion arresting engagement with the reels, the link I02 engages with the extension I0! and oscillates the bar I80 sufficiently so that the outer end-of thecrank 60 'may be restored to contact with the lug 63, thus normally positioning the rock shaft and causing the pawls I4 to be in engagementwith the internal teeth I3. It is this element of .delay in the return of the rock shaft toa normal position which provides for free spinning movement of the primary reels and prevents the actuating pawls therefor from contacting with the internal hub teeth until the termination of the spinning movement of the wheels has been accomplished by the operation of the timing mechanism which is present in the form of the spring motor '18.

The upper end of the H-shaped lever 80 in cludes an arm I08 with which is connected a coil spring I09, the other end of said spring being joined with a stationary hook I I0 carried by the front wall I0, the spring E09 being used to return the lever 80 to a normal position following elevation thereof by the operation of the control lever, the return of the lever 80 being relatively retarded, however, by the interposition of the gear regulator 83. A stop lug III is formed with the arm I08 and engages with the frame of the regulator or motor 'I8to control the downward swinging movement of the lever 80 in response to the action of the spring I09. Also, pivotally carried, as at I I2, on the arm I08, is a keeper H3, having its forward end provided with a curved nose IM normally disposed in contact with a pin I I5 provided on a weighted lever lit which is pivotally supported as at IE1 in connection with one of the frame brackets of the machine. The lower end of the lever-I I6 contacts with a pivoted shunt member II8 carried in connection with the coin chute 2I. When a coin or token is placed in-the coin chute and occupies the playing position D, and the handle is depressed, the resulting rocking movement of the lever 80 causes the curved nose II I of the keeper M3 to move away from the pin H5, so that the lever M6 may respondto the action of gravity and contact with the upper end of the shunt member I I0, moving the latter against the influence of its weight so that the chute'will be closed preventing the insertion of further coins into the chute and interfering with the-initiated operation of the machine. If during the operation of the machine, subsequent coins are inserted, the shunt member .will occupy a position obstructing the chute and preventing such subsequently inserted coins from reaching the position D, the return of such subsequently inserted coins being effected through the discharge outlet H9.

Also, the oscillation of the regulator lever 80 results in moving the keeper I I3 so that its outer endwill be engaged with the outer end of the bell crank lever I20 of the vending mechanism. In this connection, the keeper I I3 is provided adjacent to its pivotal point II2 with a hook with which is engaged a coil spring I2 I, the other end of the spring being connected with a hook provided on the lever 80, the spring I2I serving to maintain the rear end of the keeper in contact with a stop projection II2 formed in connection with the lever 80.

As the lever 80 swings upwardly during'the initial operation of the machine, the upper edge of the keeper contacts with the lower surface of the bell crank lever I20 until continued upward movement of the lever 80 results in bringing the nose IIE of said keeper into contact with one of, the vertical side walls of the lever I20, so that upon subsequent downward movement of the lever 80, and forward movement of the keeper H3, the lever I20 will be oscillated to release merchandise from the machine. If desired, the keeper II3 may be provided with an upstanding arm I23 which is arranged, upon the oscillation of the lever 80, and the keeper II 3, to contact with a crank I24 constituting the actuating part of an odometer or totalizer I25, by means of which the number of individual operations of the machine may be registered.

In the present form of the invention, the vending mechanism comprises a plate I26 disposed at a slight angle to the horizontal and which is carried by the back of the front wall I0 in the upper part of the cabinet A. The lower end of the plate I26 is provided with a circular depression I21, in which is arranged for rotation the mechandise dispensing rotor I28, the latter having its peripheral part provided with a plurality of substantially circular pockets I29 which are adapted for the reception of confections of substantially spherical or ball form, known in the art as ball-gum. The confection gravitates into the pockets I29 in order that each of the latter will receive one of the bell-shaped articles of confection.

The rotation of the rotor causes the pockets I29 thereof to register with an inclined discharge chute I39 which leads to the exterior of the machine, the outlet of which is normally closed by a hinged gate I3I, which when elevated provides for the release of the article of confection from the chute. Above the entrance to the chute I30, there is provided a stationary bafile I32 so that articles of confection disposed above the rotor will not be permitted to enter said chute.

The release of the rotor is effected by the striking of the nose end of the keeper on the bell crank lever I20. This lever is pivotally mounted as at I33 on the under side of the plate I26, a spring I 34 maintaining the lever I20 in contact with the stationary stop lug I35. The shorter arm I36 of the bell crank I20 is provided at its outer end with a foot I3'I having a shoulder I38. This shoulder is arranged for cooperation with a manually operating sliding bar I39 carried in guides in connection with the plate I26 and the front wall I0, the said bar terminating in an exteriorly disposed actuating extremity I40, which is adapted to be manually grasped, following the release of the vending mechanism, to effect the withdrawal of merchandise from the machine.

The inner end of the bar is provided with a slot MI in which is positioned a shoulder screw I42 depending from the plate I26, whereby to limit the extent of reciprocation of the bar I39. Carried by the bar I39 is a ratchet tooth extension I43 which is arranged for engagement with a pivoted dog I44 carried by the plate I26, the dog being kept in contact with the teeth I43 by a spring I45, the said dog serving to normally prevent outward movement of the bar I39. Upon return movement of the regulator lever 80, the bell crank lever I20 is oscillated so that the shoulder I38 is moved out of engagement with a lug I46 formed with the sliding bar I39, thereby allowing the sliding bar to respond to the influence of a spring I41 so that the ratchet tooth extension I43 will be moved rearwardly past the dog I44. This enables the bar to be advanced forwardly by a manual operation since the dog I44 will then be merely deflected by the ratchet extension I43 and will not interfere with the complete forward sliding movement of the bar I 39 to a merchandise discharging position. However, upon the return of the bar I39 following such forward movement, the lug I43 will again contact with the shoulder I38 so that the ratchet bar will be in registration with the dog I44, the dog being oscillated to a position to lock the bar I39 against outward movement.

Pivotally carried by the under side of the bar I 39 is an arm I 48 which is advanced by the spring I47 into contact with V-shaped notches I49 provided in the periphery of the rotor I 28, so that the outward sliding movement of the bar I39 Will cause the rotation of the rotor in one direction, rearward or reverse rotation of rotor being prevented by means of a spring detent I50 which cooperates with the notches I49 to prevent rotation of the rotor in a direction opposite to that secured by the outward sliding movement of the bar I 39 and its associated arm I 48. During the return movement of the bar I39, the arm I48 turns about its pivotal axis in connection with said bar without revolvingthe rotor. .A window is provided in the front wall I0 above the plate I 26, and in registration with the rotor I28, so that the operator of the machine may know when the machine is empty of merchandise or properly supplied therewith.

To direct coins from the bottom of the coin chute into one or the other of the receptacles 8 and 9, the frame bracket I05 supports a ratchet wheel I5I, from the opposite sides of which project pins I52. The link I92 is provided with an out-turned foot I53 which is so disposed that downward movement of said link in response to the operation of the regulator lever 80, will effect step by step rotation of the wheel I5I, each operation rotating the disk or wheel I5I a distance equivalent to that of each of the ratchet teeth on the periphery thereof.

Pivotally supported by the frame bracket I05 are bell crank levers E54, the horizontal arms of said levers being supported in normal positions by coil springs I55 so that the outer ends of the horizontal arms will be terminated in spaced relationship in contact with the bracket I05, with a coin resting above the V-shaped lug T0 in position E disposed between them. The normally upright arms I56 of the levers I54 are provided with curved edges which are arranged for contact with the transverse pins I52 on the ratchet disk I5I and therefore as the disk is rotated, the bell cranks will be rocked about their pivotal axis in accordance with the particular bell crank acted upon by the pins I 52, which it will be understood are disposed on opposite sides of the disk I 5I The arrangement of the pins I52 is such that but one of the levers I 54 will be actuated at any given time. The actuation of said levers by the pins on the disk causes the lever rod to fulcrum around its pivotal axis so that the outer end of the horizontal arm thereof will be lowered to allow a coin to gravitate from the V-shaped shoulder I0 and thence be directed to the transversely extending chutes leading to the token receptacles 8 and 9. The V-shaped lug I0 is disposed directly to the rear of a window I51 in the front wall of the cabinet so that the passage of the token or coins through the chute or runway may be observed by the machine operator.

To provide for the showing of the last played coin in the lower portion of the coin chute, the descent of the coin or token to the position E may be interrupted to permit of the passage of the coin just previously played from the position E to the coin receiver by the provision of a wire or rod I59. This rod has its inner end connected with the link I02 and its forward end arranged to project through an opening I60 provided in the lower portion of the coin chute, whereby when the link I02 is elevated, the lower portion of the chute will be blocked by the forward end of the rod I59 and upon the lowering of said arm I48 to a normal position, the rod I59 will be retracted, to the position disclosed in Fig. 9 so that the coin may fall and register with the opening I58.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a combined vending and amusement machine wherein provision is made, upon the insertion of a proper coin or token, to release the vending mechanism and, simultaneously therewith, effect the rotation of the primary and secondary reels in opposite directions in a substantially silent and noiseless manner, with the reels spinning freely about their supporting axes. While the operation of the machine will be largely obvious in view of the above description, nevertheless, the same may be summarized as follows: a

A coin or token of proper denomination is first inserted in the slot 29 and the internal chute 2!, allowing the coin to fall bygravity until it assumes the position D in said chute, where it is retained on a shoulder the substantially forwardly inclined portion of the chute, with the lip 41 of the pivoted control lever 45 forming the forward wall of this part of the chute and holding the coin against further movement. With the coin thus positioned, the operating handle 2 3 is rocked downwardly which through its crank arm 21 effects the rotation of the coin ejector 32, causing the finger 39 of said ejector to pass through an opening in the back wall of the coin chute and directly engage the coin supported in the position D. The continued downward movement of the handle 23 serves to enable the coin ejector, through the provision of the interposed coin, to oscillate the control lever about the axis of the stud shaft 22, the movement of the control lever in an upward direction being resisted by the spring 50.

After the control lever has reached its extreme upward point of movement, with the handle 26 at its lowest point of movementythe said control lever moves downwardly, when the handle is released, in response to the action of the spring 58, so that the triangular-shaped projection 53 thereof contacts with the link 55 causing the oscillation of the latter and its associated crank 68. The oscillation of the crank, in turn, oscillates the rock shaft 5'! from its normal position, and as the pawls 'l i are in engagement with the internal teeth E3 of the primary reels g and 12, free spinning movement is imparted to said primary reels in one direction. After the crank 60 has been actuated through the control lever and rocked to its farthest position from normal the said crank responds to the influence of the weaker spring 6 i, so that the rock shaft 5? will be returnedtoward its normal position by said last named spring. This. return movement of the rock shaft toward its normal position then efiects the rotation of the secondary reels but in a direction opposed to that imparted to the primary reels, the arrangement of the pawls l6 and Ma within the hubs of said reels producing spinning movement of the reels about their common axis in a free and uninterrupted manner and without clicking noise ordinarily incident to pawl and ratchet operation.

The rotation of the reels is then stopped in permutable order by the operation of the spring regulator which contacts with the upstanding arm .9-l .of the frame member so that the variable length lugs 94 will be withdrawn one by one from contact with the arms of the detents 35, allowing the heads 88 of the latter to enter the external teeth on the hubs of the reels H and thereby registering the game symbols appearing on the peripheral portions of said reels with the sight opening II. The movement of the regulator '88. in response to the actuation of the control to the differences in the rate of return of the lip '47 of the control lever and the finger 39 of the coin ejector 32 to normal positions, following the depression of the handle 24, the coin confined between these members will be released and permitted to drop into the lower part of the coin chute. As shown in Fig. 11, the rod 59 first operates to check the descent of the coin and when the rod is withdrawn from the chute, by the return of the. parts to normal positions, the coin drops from the rod and is received on the forward ends of the arms I56 of the bell crank levers Hi l. Then as these levers are rocked, in accordance withthe positions of the pins 52 on the ratchet wheel l5'l, the said coin will be diverted into one or the other of the coin or token receivers.

While I havedescribed what I consider to be the preferred form of the present invention, nevertheless, it Will be understood that the same is subject to considerable variation and modification without departing from the essential features of the present invention as the latter have been set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a coin controlled vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame,xa plurality of primary and secondary sets of vertically arranged symbol-bearing reels ro- 'tatabiy supported in spaced horizontal order on said shaft, said reels beiig provided with hubs having-internal ratchet teeth, pawls eccentrically'pivoted'to said shaft and having their outer ends disposed for engagement with the internal teeth of said reel hubs, coin controlled meansifor rocking said shaft first in one direction to impart spinningrotation to the primary reels and then immediately thereafter in the opposite direotion to impart corresponding rotation-to the secondary reels, and timing mechanism for positively stopping the rotation of said reels in predetermined order.

2. In a coin operated vending and amusement mach nea plurality of reels arranged for rota-- tionin vertical planes about a common horizontal axis, coin operated means for imparting rotation to certain of said reels in one direction and immediately thereafter imparting rotation to the remainder of said reels in the opposite direction, said reels during rotation turning freely about the supporting axis thereof, detents engageable with said reels to positively arrest the rotation thereof in successive order, resilient means for operating-said detents, and timing mechanism for governing the operation of said detents.

3. In a coin operated vending and amusement machine, a cabinet provided with a sight opening, primary and secondary sets of symbol-bearing reels rotatably supported for free spinning movement about a horizontal axis, said reels being provided with hubs having internal and external teeth, a rock shaft upon which said reels are mounted, primary and secondary sets of centrifugally-responsive pawls'having theirinner ends pivotally connected with cranks carried by said rock shaft and their outer ends engageable with the internal teeth of said reel hubs, coin actuated means for rocking said shaft from a normal position first in one direction and immediately thereafter in the opposite direction to effect the spinning of said reels through the interaction of said pawls, a plurality of pivotally mounted detents engageable with the external teeth of said reel hubs to arrest the rotation of said reels and to align the symbols thereof in varying sequences with said sight opening, and resilient means for moving said detents into engagement with said reel hubs.

4. In a coin operated vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of primary and secondary sets of symbol-bearing reels freely rotatable about the axis of said shaft, hubs provided in connec tion with said reels and formed with internal teeth, primary and secondary sets of pawls having their inner ends pivotally connected with crank extensions formed in connection with said rock shaft and their outer ends disposed for engagement with the teeth of said hubs, the primary pawls being in engagement with the teeth of their respective hubs when said rock shaft occupies a normal position and the secondary set of pawls out of engagement with said hub teeth, coin controlled means for rocking said shaft to cause the primary pawls to impart rotary spinning movement to said primary reels and immediately thereafter to return said rock shaft toward its normal position whereby to cause said secondary pawls to engage the teeth of the hubs of the secondary reels and spin the latter in a direction opposed to the rotation of the primary reels, and means for positively stopping the rotation of said reels in a desired successive order.

5. In coin operated mechanism, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels rotatably carried by said shaft, means for imparting rocking motion to said shaft to rotate certain of said reels in opposite directions comprising a crank arm fixed to said shaft, a spring-pressed link having an elongated slot for the reception of said shaft and pivoted to said crank arm eccentrically of said shaft, and a coin actuated control lever having a cam surface arranged to engage with said link to effect the oscillation of said crank arm and rock shaft.

6. In a coin controlled machine, a cabinet having an opening in the front thereof, a removable front wall arranged to occupy said opening, said front Wall having a sight opening formed therein, a frame fixed to said front wall and disposed within said cabinet, a rock shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels carried by said rock shaft, coin actuated means carried in connection with said front wall for effecting the rocking of said shaft first in one direction and then in the opposite direction to impart rotary spinning movement to said reels, a plurality of detents successively engageable with said reels for positively arresting rotation thereof in desired successive order and with the symbols of said reels in registration with the sight opening in said front wall, and timing means for effecting the release of said detents in bringing the same into motion arresting engagement with said reels.

7. In a coin operated vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of primary and secondary sets of symbol-bearing reels freely rotatable about the axis of said shaft, said reels being provided with hubs having internal teeth, cranks fixed to rotate with said shaft and arranged within said hubs, primary and secondary sets of pawls pivotally connected with said cranks and having their outer ends disposed for engagement with the internal teeth of haid hubs, said primary pawls when said rock shaft is normally positioned being in direct engagement with said hub teeth and the secondary set of pawls out of such engagement, coin controlled spring-actuated means for effecting the rotation of said rock shaft first in 10 one direction to cause the rotation of the primary reels through said primary pawls and then immediately thereafter in the opposite direction to bring said secondary pawls into engagement with the teeth of the hubs of the secondary reels and to cause the rotation of said secondary reels about said rock shaft in a direction opposed to the primary reels, means for interrupting the return of the rock shaft to its normal position to maintain said primary pawls out of engagement with the teeth of the hubs of the primary reels during the spinning of said reels, and automatic means for restoring said rock shaft following the completion of the spinning motion of said reels to its normal position.

8. In a coin operated vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of primary and secondary sets of symbol-bearing reels freely rotatable about the axis of said shaft, coin controlled spring-actuated means for rocking said shaft first in one direc-' tion to impart spinning rotation to the primary reels and then immediately thereafter in the opposite direction to impart corresponding rotation to the secondary reels but in the opposite direction of rotation to that of the primary reels, pawls carried by said rock shaft and engageable with teeth formed in connection with the hubs of said reels to impart the power of said rock shaft to said reels, and means for maintaining 40 said pawls out of contact with the hub teeth during the spinning of said reels.

9. In a coin operated vending and amusement machine, a cabinet, a plurality of symbol-bearing reels rotatably mounted within said cabinet in spaced vertical order and for rotation about a. common horizontally disposed axis, coin controlled spring-actuated means for imparting spinning movement to said reels, a sight opening provided in the front wall of said cabinet in registration with said reels, hubs provided in connection with said reels and formed with external teeth, a plurality of pivoted detents disposed between said reels, means for maintaining said detents out of engagement with said teeth during spinning motion of said reels, and means for successively releasing said detents to bring the latter into motion arresting engagement with the teeth of said hubs and to align the symbols appearing on said reels with said sight opening.

10. In a combined vending and amusement furnishing machine, a cabinet having a sight opening in the front wall thereof, a plurality of reels mounted for rotation in vertical planes about a common horizontally disposed axis, the peripheral portions of said reels being provided with symbols arranged to be presented in varying sequences to said sight opening, coin-controlled spring-actuated means for spinning said reels about said axis, hubs formed in connection with 7 0 said reels and provided with external teeth, a supporting frame, a plurality of pivoted detents carried by said frame, means for simultaneously moving said detents to a position clear of said hubs to provide for the spinning rotation of said reels, a spring actuated release bar pivotally carried by said frame, and lug extensions of unequal lengths formed with said release bar and cooperative with said detents to bring the latter successively into engagement with the external teeth of said hubs to successively arrest spinning movement of said reels.

11. In a combined vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of primary and secondary sets of symbol-bearing reels freely rotatable about the axis of said shaft, coin-controlled means for rocking said shaft in one direction to impart spinning rotation to the primary reels, automatic means for returning said rock shaft and imparting spinning rotation to said secondary reels in a direction opposite to that of said primary reels, and means for positively stopping the rotation of said reels in a prearranged order.

12. In a combined vending and amusement machine, a frame, a horizontally arranged rock shaft carried by said frame, a plurality of vertically positioned, horizontally spaced, reels rotatably carried by said shaft, a hub provided with internal teeth secured to each of said reels, crank members rigidly secured to said rock shaft, pawl members pivoted to. said cranks and engageable with the teeth in said hubs when said shaft is rocked, coin-controlled means for rocking said shaft to cause said pawls to engage the teeth to impart spinning movement to said reels, means for limiting the rocking movement of said shaft in one direction to hold certain of said pawls out of engagement with their cooperative teeth, and means for rendering said limiting means inactive after said reels have come to rest.

13. In a combined vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of symbol bearing reels rotatable about said shaft, hub members secured to said reels, means for connecting said hub members to said shaft, crank lever means secured to said shaft, primary means for swinging said lever means in one direction to rock said shaft to impart spinning movement to certain of said reels and secondary means for swinging said lever means in the opposite direction to return said rock shaft to its initial position and impart spinning move ment to the rest of said reels in a direction opposed to that of said certain reels, said secondary swinging means being weaker than said primary swinging means.

14. In a combined vending and amusement machine, a frame, a rock shaft supported by said frame, a plurality of symbol bearing reels rotatable about said shaft, hub members secured tosaid reels, means for connecting said hub members to said shaft, crank means secured to said shaft, a control lever pivoted to said frame, coin actuated means for moving said control lever in an initial direction, timing means energized by the initial movement of said control lever, means for moving said control lever in a reverse direction to engage said crank lever to rock said shaft and spin certain of said reels, means for returning said crank lever and rock shaft to an initial position to spin the rest of said reels, and pivoted spring pressed detent means engageable with said hubs to stop the spinning movement of said reels, said detent means being controlled by said timing means.

GEORGE E. NORRIS. 

